Google is no longer the only search engine with a digital assistant under its belt. Baidu, which operates the most popular search engine in China and recently acquired smart home startup Raven, was on hand at CES to showcase the forthcoming Raven H and establish itself as yet another player in the crowded field of digital assistants.
Much like the Amazon Echo and like-minded Google Home, the Raven H is a voice-activated speaker that’s built upon an artificial intelligence platform (in this case, DuerOS). The stylish, colorful device is the result of Swedish engineering, and makes use of a detachable LED touchscreen that flips up and lets you to control all aspects of your smart home. Once connected to your home network, the tower-like device can hail a cab, turn on your lights, read the news, and play music via several high-end audio components that come courtesy of Tymphany.
The Raven H isn’t the only product to capitalize on Baidu’s A.I. platform, even if it is the first. At CES, the Beijing-based dotcom also introduced the Raven R, a delightful robot with six moveable joints that can respond based on user commands, enabling what Baidu calls a range of “emotions.” It’s basically Pixar’s Luxo Jr., only it utilizes the aforementioned Raven H for a head instead of a traditional light bulb.
The playful design and standard capabilities of the Raven H and Raven R are only part of the equation. Whereas Amazon and Google continue to dominant the U.S. market when it comes to smart speakers, neither company has managed to gain a strong foothold in the eastern markets. This especially applies to the latter company, which remains blocked in China. Baidu hopes that since its A.I. platform is tailored toward a predominantly Chinese audience first and foremost, it will have more domestic appeal. And because both Raven devices will be operating on their home turf, they’ll have an easier time tapping into regional services.
Home field advantage aside, it remains to be seen whether Baidu can compete with the likes of Amazon, Google, or the wealth of companies that are currently outfitting their smart speakers with either Alexa or Google Assistant. Either way, we’ll find out when the Raven H hits U.S. shelves at an undisclosed price later this year.
Outdoor security cameras are not always practical if you live in an apartment or rental. Drilling into an exterior wall may be off-limits, while pointing a regular indoor camera through a window can create another problem once reflections start showing up after dark.
Baseus is trying to solve both issues with the new PrimeSentinel W1, a $69.99 security camera designed specifically to monitor the outdoors through glass. It mounts directly to a window without drilling and uses a 4K Starlight sensor with an F1.0 aperture for full-color monitoring during the day and at night.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
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With AI progressing so fast, it's only a matter of time before we start getting AI companions like the ones we used to see in movies like R2-D2, Wall-E, or Baymax. Now, Singapore-based OKA Technology has unveiled Mori, a cute little AI companion that looks less like a conventional home robot and more like someone turned the Pokémon Foongus into a table lamp.
Mori isn't meant to clean your house or control your smart home, but to serve as what OKA calls a "Nature Companion." It uses subtle movements, warm lighting, nature-inspired sounds, and small reactions to make its presence around the house feel calming rather than distracting. Mori can sit quietly while you read, sway along to music, welcome you when you enter a room, or encourage you to slow down for a moment without requiring a screen or a conversation.